[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 82 (Thursday, June 5, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7478-S7479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 1190. A bill to expand and enhance postbaccalaureate opportunities 
at Hispanic-serving institutions, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. BINGAMAN: Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from 
Texas, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, to introduce the Next Generation 
Hispanic-Serving Institution Act. This bill will strengthen provisions 
in Title V of the Higher Education Act, HEA, by providing our Hispanic-
Serving Institutions with both graduate opportunities and reductions in 
regulatory barriers.
  According to the 2000 census Hispanics make up 12.5 percent of the 
American population. Currently Hispanics constitute 10 percent of the 
college enrollment. By 2050 the Hispanic population will grow to 25 
percent. It is in our national interest to ensure that this population 
is well educated so that they will be ready to take their place as 
professionals, scientists, inventors, and well-informed citizens.
  Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, serve students of all 
backgrounds and ethnicities in 13 States. Colleges and universities 
become eligible for HSI status if at least 50 percent of their student 
population receives need-based financial assistance, 25 percent is 
Hispanic, and 50 percent of their Hispanic population is low-income. It 
is at these HSIs that the largest growth in advanced degrees awarded to 
Hispanics is occurring. Between 1991 and 2000 the number of Hispanic 
students earning master's degrees at HSIs grew 136 percent and the 
number of receiving doctoral degrees grew by 85 percent. Currently over 
25 percent of the Hispanics who obtained these degrees did so at HSIs. 
As a nation, we need to expand the capacity of Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions, support their undergraduate programs, and encourage them 
to offer quality graduate and professional degree programs.
  The Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institution Act will strengthen 
our Hispanic-Serving Institutions by: Establishing a competitive grant 
program for HSIs to support their masters and doctoral degree programs. 
Eliminating the current requirement for HSIs to show that 50 percent of 
their Hispanic population is low-income. This requirement is difficult 
for the institutions to meet because they cannot collect the necessary 
student data. Eliminating the 2-year wait-out period between HSI grants 
allowing continuous funding of existing programs. Adding, as an 
authorized activity, programs that support student transfers from 2-
year to 4-year institutions. Raising the funding for the Title V HSI 
grant program to $175,000,000. Allocating $125,000,000 for a new grant 
program to support HSI masters and doctoral programs.
  The State of New Mexico houses 19 HSIs within its border. The New 
Mexico HSIs serve the entire State and their student populations are 
very diverse. Over the years these 19 institutions have worked 
diligently to educate and support all students. They have graduated 
outstanding teachers, scientists, and other professionals. The Next 
Generation Hispanic-Serving Institution Act supports the valuable work 
that these and all other HSIs are currently doing and gives them new 
resources they need to expand their offerings.

  I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I ask unanimous consent 
that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1190

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Next Generation Hispanic 
     Serving Institutions Act''.

    TITLE I--GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES AT HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS

     SEC. 101. POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC 
                   AMERICANS.

       (a) Establishment of Program.--Title V of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating part B as part C;

[[Page S7479]]

       (2) by redesignating sections 511 through 518 as sections 
     521 through 528, respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after section 505 the following:

   ``PART B--PROMOTING POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC 
                               AMERICANS

     ``SEC. 511. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       ``(1) According to the United States Census, by the year 
     2050, 1 in 4 Americans will be of Hispanic origin.
       ``(2) Despite the dramatic increase in the Hispanic 
     population in the United States, the National Center for 
     Education Statistics reported that in 1999, Hispanics 
     accounted for only 4 percent of the master's degrees, 3 
     percent of the doctor's degrees, and 5 percent of first-
     professional degrees awarded in the United States.
       ``(3) Although Hispanics constitute 10 percent of the 
     college enrollment in the United States, they comprise only 3 
     percent of instructional faculty in college and universities.
       ``(4) The future capacity for research and advanced study 
     in the United States will require increasing the number of 
     Hispanics pursuing postbaccalaureate studies.
       ``(5) Hispanic-serving institutions are leading the Nation 
     in increasing the number of Hispanics attaining graduate and 
     professional degrees.
       ``(6) Among Hispanics who received master's degrees in 
     1999-2000, 25 percent earned them at Hispanic-serving 
     institutions.
       ``(7) Between 1991 and 2000, the number of Hispanic 
     students earning master's degrees at Hispanic-serving 
     institutions grew 136 percent, the number receiving doctor's 
     degrees grew by 85 percent, and the number earning first-
     professional degrees grew by 47 percent.
       ``(8) It is in the National interest to expand the capacity 
     of Hispanic-serving institutions to offer graduate and 
     professional degree programs.
       ``(9) Research is a key element in graduate education and 
     undergraduate preparation, particularly in science and 
     technology, and Congress desires to strengthen the role of 
     research at Hispanic serving-institutions. University 
     research, whether performed directly or through a 
     university's nonprofit research institute or foundation, is 
     considered an integral part of the institution and mission of 
     the university.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are--
       ``(1) to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities 
     for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic 
     students; and
       ``(2) to expand and enhance the postbaccalaureate academic 
     offerings of high quality that are educating the majority of 
     Hispanic college students and helping large numbers of 
     Hispanic students and low-income individuals complete 
     postsecondary degrees.

     ``SEC. 512. PROGRAM AUTHORITY AND ELIGIBILITY.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--Subject to the availability of 
     funds appropriated to carry out this part, the Secretary 
     shall award competitive grants to eligible institutions.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--For the purposes of this part, an 
     `eligible institution' means an institution of higher 
     education that--
       ``(1) is a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined under 
     section 502); and
       ``(2) offers a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree 
     granting program.

     ``SEC. 513. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.

       ``Grants awarded under this part shall be used for 1 or 
     more of the following activities:
       ``(1) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or 
     laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including 
     instructional and research purposes.
       ``(2) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and 
     improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other 
     instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of 
     telecommunications technology equipment or services.
       ``(3) Purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and 
     other scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other 
     educational materials, including telecommunications program 
     materials.
       ``(4) Support for needy postbaccalaureate students 
     including outreach, academic support services, mentoring, 
     scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance to 
     permit the enrollment of such students in postbaccalaureate 
     certificate and degree granting programs.
       ``(5) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, 
     faculty research, curriculum development, and academic 
     instruction.
       ``(6) Creating or improving facilities for Internet or 
     other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, 
     including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology 
     equipment or services.
       ``(7) Collaboration with other institutions of higher 
     education to expand postbaccalaureate certificate and degree 
     offerings.
       ``(8) Other activities proposed in the application 
     submitted pursuant to section 514 that--
       ``(A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of this part; 
     and
       ``(B) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review 
     and acceptance of such application.

     ``SEC. 514. APPLICATION AND DURATION.

       ``(a) Application.--Any eligible institution may apply for 
     a grant under this part by submitting an application to the 
     Secretary at such time and in such manner as determined by 
     the Secretary. Such application shall demonstrate how the 
     grant funds will be used to improve postbaccalaureate 
     education opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students 
     and will lead to such students' greater financial 
     independence.
       ``(b) Duration.--Grants under this part shall be awarded 
     for a period not to exceed 5 years.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not award more than 
     1 grant under this part in any fiscal year to any Hispanic-
     serving institution.''.
       (b) Cooperative Arrangements.--Section 524 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) 
     is amended by inserting ``and section 513'' after ``section 
     503''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 528(a) of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Authorizations.--
       ``(1) Part a.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out part A of this title $175,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2005 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
     succeeding fiscal years.
       ``(2) Part b.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out part B of this title $125,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2005 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
     succeeding fiscal years.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--Title V of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 502--
       (A) in subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), by striking ``section 
     512(b)'' and inserting ``section 522(b)''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``section 512(a)'' 
     and inserting ``section 522(a)'';
       (2) in section 521(c)(6) (as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)(2)), by striking ``section 516'' and inserting ``section 
     526''; and
       (3) in section 526 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), 
     by striking ``section 518'' and inserting ``section 528''.

      TITLE II--REDUCING REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR HISPANIC-SERVING 
                              INSTITUTIONS

     SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1101a(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a period; and
       (C) by striking subparagraph (C); and
       (2) by striking paragraph (7).

     SEC. 202. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.

       Section 503(b)(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1101b(b)(7)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(7) Articulation agreements and student support programs 
     designed to facilitate the transfer from 2-year to 4-year 
     institutions.''.

     SEC. 203. ELIMINATION OF WAIT-OUT PERIOD.

       Section 504(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1101c(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Award Period.--The Secretary may award a grant to a 
     Hispanic-serving institution under this title for 5 years.''.

     SEC. 204. APPLICATION PRIORITY.

       Section 521(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as 
     redesignated by section 101(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
     ``(from funds other than funds provided under this title)''.
                                 ______